Siege of Tiverton (1645)
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The Siege of Tiverton took place in October 1645 during the First English Civil War, when a Royalist garrison surrendered to a detachment of the New Model Army.
Quick Facts Date, Location ...
Siege of Tiverton (1645) | |||||||
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Part of Wars of the Three Kingdoms | |||||||
Tiverton Castle, aerial view | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Royalists | Parliamentarians | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Sir Gilbert Talbot Major George Sadler |
Sir Thomas Fairfax Edward Massey | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
200 | 2,000 - 4,000 [lower-alpha 1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
200 POW | none |
Close
Defeats at Naseby in June, and Langport in July destroyed the Royalist field armies, leaving them confined to parts of the West Country, and isolated strongpoints elsewhere. When Bristol surrendered on 10 September, their last significant position was the port of Exeter.
To isolate Exeter, the Parliamentarians first needed to capture outposts such as Tiverton Castle, held by a garrison of around 200. When their heavy artillery opened fire on 19 October, one of the first shots severed the drawbridge chains, and the garrison capitulated.